I’m really surprised at how un-gangsta Mos Def’s fans in the UK are. I mean, the last time I saw Mos Def was at this ridiculous little club in Brooklyn years ago, and even for an NYC hip-hop crowd, the room was insanely G’d up.

But not in Islington: it seems as though Mos Def attracts a lot of kids from King’s College – which, given the man’s benefaction to the world of rap, is a bit surprising. But really, that’s the beautiful thing about hip-hop these days; no longer can I expect a certain type of person at a rap concert. Rap music is finally beginning to unite different types and trends of people; whereas once it was something stereotypically associated with a certain type of person, with a certain type of style, the genre is opening itself up to people of all ages, race, and ‘scene’. Standing in Islington Academy, I’m thinking that maybe this is due to the fact that hip-hop isn’t something people need to feel shy about liking anymore, which was definitely once the case.

Nonetheless, this crowd is ruthlessly shy in terms of enjoying themselves, and my main man Mos Def is quick to point it out: “You London types are just too damn polite! I want to see you guys forget to be polite and just have a good time!” But, alas, being taunted by the man himself doesn’t seem to stir the crowd in the slightest, except for one complete psycho up front wearing a t-shirt that reads Dead girls are easy. Mos Def just looks a bit scared of him.

Still, the man born Dante Smith delivers an energetic and compelling performance, not letting his disappointment at the crowd affect his attitude or ability to bring some serious rhymes. The hits are there - ‘Sex, Love & Money’ from The New Danger; classics like ‘Mathematics’ from the seminal Black on Both Sides; and some new tracks from the forthcoming The Ecstatic. The latter, featuring some exciting guest production from Madlib, is to be released in February 2008.

All in all: pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Photo: Danandsteve, kindly borrowed from Flickr (click name for link)